About the Department of Social Protection (DSP)

The Department of Social Protection's mission is to promote active participation and inclusion in society through the provision of income supports, employment services and other services.

The department is the largest payment organisation in the State. It also operates the public employment service and directly funds a wide range of employment programmes and citizen advisory services.

The department's main functions are to:

• advise government and formulate appropriate social protection and social inclusion policies
• design, develop and deliver effective and cost efficient income supports, activation and employment services, advice to customers and other related services
• work towards providing seamless delivery of services in conjunction with other government departments, agencies and bodies
• control fraud and abuse within the social protection system

The department plays a key role in two of the major government policy domains – the distribution and re-distribution of income to assure social cohesion and equity of economic outcomes, and the efficient operation of the supply side of the labour market.

You can read more about the department's goals in the Statement of Strategy.

• Business Information Security
• Centralised Operations
• Control Office
• Corporate Services
• Deputy Secretary's Office
• Employment Services
• HR and Facilities Management
• Internal Audit
• IS Services
• Medical Review and Assessment
• Operations Control
• Pensions
• Regions
• Service Development
• Social Welfare Appeals Office
• Working Age / Income Support Policy

Further details as to the department’s structure and management tiers are available on Who Does What.

• Access to Information on the Environment (AIE)
• Bodies under the Aegis of the Department of Social Protection
• Children First
• Corporate Governance Framework
• Data Protection
• Departmental Payments
• Financial Information
• Freedom of Information
• Language Scheme 2023 – 2026
• Minister's Expenses
• Procurement
• Public Sector Information
• Quality Customer Service
• Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015
• Social Media Policy
• Statutory Instruments